Parenting Book Club: Week Two

I had a pretty busy week this week so I didn't get a lot of reading done, I also had emails from a couple of book club members who haven't got the books in hand yet (stuck in the mail).So I don't have a lot to say about the book this week, other than it has continued to present the idea that the way you discipline teaches your child, but is it teaching your child what you want to teach them?  Up until now the book has focused on aggressive and rebellious behaviour for the most part, but the last part I read was about a whining child and how this behaviour only exists because it works. The parents had given in on this behaviour out of sheer exhaustion because the child was so persistent and so the child saw the behaviour as rewarding.

Another book I read a while back talked about the danger of giving in on things even once, because for children, if you gave in once, they will remember that one time forever. Like the people who continue to buy lottery tickets even though they only won $2 once, three years ago, and think every ticket might be the one that wins again, children similarly think: "...well it worked that one time, it might work again this time." Sort of like Russian Roulette, only with whining.

Of course it is unrealistic to think you will never give in, but the crux of the matter that is reiterated in Raising a Self Disciplined Child, is that if you gave in, understand that it will be that harder to curb the behaviour next time or help your child find another (less annoying) way to assert their will.

So that's all I have to say for this week. Hopefully next week I will have more time to read and you guys will have your books in hand....